Marvel Stripe Tomato Seeds

Indeterminate, slicer, pole tomato. A beautiful heirloom variety known for its large, flattened fruits with golden-yellow skin streaked with red and pink. The interior features striking marbled flesh with a sweet, fruity flavor and juicy, meaty texture. Produces impressive, colorful tomatoes perfect for slicing, fresh eating, and summer salads. Provide sturdy support and prune suckers to manage growth and encourage healthy production.

Planting by Zones

Zones 9-10

• Marvel Stripe tomatoes grow well in the extended warm season of Zones 9 and 10. Often, you can grow tomatoes year-round. This process is called perennialization. It happens when a typically annual plant grows year-round in mild weather. In Zones 9 and 10, you can grow tomatoes year-round, but their productivity will decrease once temperatures cool and the days are shorter. As a grower, you should decide to pull your tomato plants if they stop producing at a healthy rate, become diseased, or if space is needed for more seasonal vegetables.
• In Zones 9 and 10, you can start tomatoes from seed as early as February as long as they are protected from the cold. Do not let your seedlings get root bound in their containers. All seeds of the Solanaceae family enjoy warm temperatures to germinate. Using a heating pad can greatly increase germination rates and speed.

Zones 2-8

• Sow Marvel Stripe tomato seeds in starter pots with a heating pad 5-6 weeks before the last frost. Transplant out after the danger of frost has passed.

Planting Marvel Stripe Tomato Seeds

• Tomato seeds are easy to start with a few key things. Tomatoes germinate very slowly in cold soil. If you are starting your seeds early in the season, you may want to use a heating mat to ensure the soil is warm enough for quick germination. Soil temperature should be 75-90°F.
• If you are planting seeds in starter pots, plant seeds into thoroughly moist, high-quality seed starting soil. Place seeds on top of the soil and cover with 1/4″ of finely sifted soil.
• If you plan to direct sow (not recommended), follow the same instructions for starter pots or plug trays.
• Once the seedlings have germinated and have their first set of true leaves, fertilize regularly with an organic liquid fertilizer.
• Seedlings can be planted into the garden when they are 7-8 weeks old or 5-6″ tall and stocky. Tomatoes are a unique crop because they can be planted deeply into the ground. This is recommended because the tiny white hairs on the tomato plant become roots. Plant your starts down into the soil until only 3-4″ of the top leaves show. Tomatoes thrive in full sun.

Growing Marvel Stripe Tomatoes

• A granular organic fertilizer added to the planting area is a good idea if your garden has poor nutrient content or if you are growing in a new raised bed.
• Marvel Stripe is an indeterminate tomato variety, meaning it will continue growing and producing fruit throughout the season. Provide a sturdy support system such as a tomato cage, trellis, or tomahook.
• Indeterminate or pole tomato varieties grow long and wild. They benefit from regular pruning to manage growth and improve airflow. Prune back suckers to help direct the plant’s energy toward fruit production.
• Avoid over-fertilizing, particularly with nitrogen-heavy fertilizers, as this can encourage excessive foliage growth at the expense of fruit production.
• Water consistently at the base of the plant, avoiding overhead watering to help prevent foliar diseases.

Growing Marvel Stripe Tomatoes in Containers

• If you are planting tomatoes in containers, make sure your container is at least 20″ deep. Keep in mind containers will dry out faster because they have more surface area and less soil to hold onto moisture. Mulch heavily on the top layer of soil in the pot to keep the soil from drying out or heating up too much.
• We recommend growing determinate or bush varieties of tomatoes in pots, as they are easier to manage. However, Marvel Stripe can be grown in a large container with adequate support and regular maintenance.

Harvesting Marvel Stripe Tomatoes

• Marvel Stripe tomatoes are best harvested when their golden-yellow skin develops rich red and pink streaking and the fruits have a slight give when gently squeezed.
• Allow fruits to ripen fully on the vine for the sweetest flavor. These large, colorful tomatoes are excellent for slicing, fresh eating, and adding color to salads and sandwiches.

Southern California Pro-tips

• In areas of Zones 9 and 10, tomatoes can be grown year-round but may decrease drastically in production during cooler months.
• Mulch heavily around your tomato plants to ensure the soil does not dry out or heat up too much.
• During our hottest months of August, September, and October, plants can suffer from the heat. Using shade cloth can help protect the plants from extreme heat.
• In July and August, keep an eye out for the tomato hornworm. This beautiful and slightly scary-looking large caterpillar can devour huge parts of your plant. You can find them by following their poop trails. Handpick them off and toss them in a bucket of soapy water.
• Provide consistent moisture during fruit development to help prevent issues such as blossom end rot and fruit cracking.

Companion Flowers/Crops

• Tomatoes can get very large. For this reason, we recommend planting low-lying plants around them. Flowers like alyssum and nasturtium look beautiful in a tomato bed!
• Basil, marigolds, and other low-growing flowers are also excellent companions for tomatoes, adding diversity and attracting beneficial insects to the garden.

Additional Learning Resources

• New to starting crops from seeds? Please watch our Seed Starting Presentation to learn the basics!
• Learn about growing all our crops on our YouTube page!
• Having pest issues? Check out in-depth information for pests that can be an issue to tomatoes at the UC Integrated Pest Management site.

Looking for other exciting and unique tomato varieties? Check out our Chocolate Stripes, Wapsipinicon Peach, Rainbow Cherry Mix, Green Zebra, and more! Shop all tomatoes here. And for helpful information on the how and why of creating a structure for growing your tomatoes, check out our article on DIY Tomato Trellis Systems.